Matt Carthy
Question:249. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of persons who retired from the Defence Forces in the years 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28519/23]
View answerTuesday, 13 June 2023
Questions (249, 263)
Matt Carthy
Question:263. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Army, Naval Service, Air Corps and Reserve Defence Forces; the current numbers of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28534/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 263 together.
The following table details the total number of personnel who discharged from the Permanent Defence Forces in each of the years 2017 to 2023 (as at 30th April):
|
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023* |
|
Total Discharges |
742 |
740 |
882 |
641 |
686 |
891 |
208 |
*as at 30 of April 2023
The term 'discharges' encompasses personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.
The established strength and current strength of the Defence Forces as at 30 April 2023 is as follows:
|
- |
Establishment |
Total Strength |
|
Army (WTE) |
7,520 |
6,322 |
|
Air Corps (WTE) |
886 |
711 |
|
Naval Service (WTE) |
1,094 |
764 |
|
Army Reserve (Effective Strength) |
3,869 |
1,382 |
|
Naval Service Reserve (Effective Strength) |
200 |
77 |
|
First Line Reserve (FLR) |
N/A |
275 |
WTE - Whole Time Equivalent
Ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. In that regard, my immediate focus is now on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.